Can a Cop make you Pop.... Options

[Random_Stranger]

Your hood for no reason (Or even in California)? I was hearing about things like this happening. Today I got pulled over because my license plate was falling off due to a screw missing, so I put it on my dashboard. I got pulled over for a fix it ticket (not a problem) and the cop asked me if I had any engine modifications. I told him "No", and he took my word for it (and believe me, I have no modifications other than that aluminum hood, not even an exhaust). I was curious why he didn't make me pop it anyways. Was it because had I said yes, he would be allowed to then check it?


I wear hearing that in Santa Barbara, because of illegal displays of "exhibition of speed" (Hah! I didn't say the R word), that any car for whatever reason, they just pull over and say "Pop your hood" and then cars get impounded. I am not saying it is okay to do the "exhibition of speed thing", but some of us cannot afford a Mercedes McLaren, and just want that luxury, ya know?


Anyways, what are your thoughts or facts?


Thanks

[FortuneCookie]

Yes, what Lagos says is right. They can't just pull you over and try to search your car without probable cause. I would understand if they saw a gun or any kind of narcotics in the passenger or rear seat. But other than that, they can't right you up for a modified car. There is NO LAW IN AMERICA that states you cannot modify your vehicle. Unless it's a safety issue such as getting rid of your rear quarter windows which will cause a blind spot. Every vehicle part will need replacement parts after a while because they will go bad! Such as rusty leaky exhaust pipes. BUT what you cannot do is modify the volume output of your vehicles exhaust. Meaning that you can have a modified exhaust. It just can't be as loud as your stock exhaust system. Fortunately no one really takes records of the volume output on cars. But ofcourse, if they hear you a mile away, they have every right to ticket you. Besides that, they can't ticket you for anything that is modified. Ofcourse, they will try to f*ck with you and say misleaded statements such as, "You know, it's illegal to modify your exhaust right?" Or "You know it's illegal to modify a vehicle right?" Just so they can right you up for something.

FLORIDA STATUTE 316.293 (Subsection 5A-B) ?

(5) NOISE ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS.--
(a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or any other noise-abatement device of a motor vehicle operated or to be operated upon the highways of this state in such a manner that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured. (b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the state with an exhaust system or noise-abatement device so modified.

The exhaust cannot be LOUDER THAN ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED. However, the flaw with this is the fact that the policing agencies in FL rarely, if ever, have any sound testing equipment. NOR do they know what the stock DB level on your car is. Now, if you still have the cats, resonators and mufflers there isnt much ground for them to stand on. Also, there are flaws in the fact that your exhaust can be modified an still be quieter than a stock production car (SRT4 and Cobras come to mind but try not to use this argument)

Also, here are the DB limits for passenger cars (to be measured at 50ft)
.....................................under 35mph ...........over 35mph
Before January 1, 1979 ........76 dB A .................A82 dB A
On or after January 1, 1979 ....72 dB A ................79 dB A

This post has been edited by FortuneCookie: Jul 22, 2008 - 2:03 PM